Ali Tribute #5: Respect

I like that Mr Ali explicitly declared his intent to "win a clean fight."

Despite the media focus on his jocularity and apparent 'mocking' of prospective opponents, he had deep respect for his craft and for each boxer that met him in the ring. That's why he took his preparation and training so seriously.

Henry Cooper, one of the few to knock Ali down, said of him: "He never had any animosity in his comments about opponents - whatever he said there was always a twinkle in his eye . . ."

His flamboyant persona was largely acknowledged to be a means of drumming up publicity and media interest in order to sell tickets and TV time. In this, he was hugely influenced by the flamboyant 1950's wrestler, Gorgeous George. And here.